SETUID(2) Linux Programmer's Manual SETUID(2)NAME
setuid - set user identity
SYNOPSIS
#include <sys/types.h>
#include <unistd.h>
int setuid(uid_t uid);
DESCRIPTIONsetuid() sets the effective user ID of the current process. If the
effective UID of the caller is root, the real UID and saved set-user-ID
are also set.
Under Linux, setuid() is implemented like the POSIX version with the
_POSIX_SAVED_IDS feature. This allows a set-user-ID (other than root)
program to drop all of its user privileges, do some un-privileged work,
and then re-engage the original effective user ID in a secure manner.
If the user is root or the program is set-user-ID-root, special care
must be taken. The setuid() function checks the effective user ID of
the caller and if it is the superuser, all process related user ID's
are set to uid. After this has occurred, it is impossible for the pro‐
gram to regain root privileges.
Thus, a set-user-ID-root program wishing to temporarily drop root priv‐
ileges, assume the identity of a non-root user, and then regain root
privileges afterwards cannot use setuid(). You can accomplish this
with the (non-POSIX, BSD) call seteuid().
RETURN VALUE
On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned, and errno is
set appropriately.
ERRORS
EAGAIN The uid does not match the current uid and uid brings process
over it's NPROC rlimit.
EPERM The user is not privileged (Linux: does not have the CAP_SETUID
capability) and uid does not match the real UID or saved set-
user-ID of the calling process.
CONFORMING TO
SVr4, POSIX.1-2001. Not quite compatible with the 4.4BSD call, which
sets all of the real, saved, and effective user IDs.
LINUX-SPECIFIC REMARKS
Linux has the concept of filesystem user ID, normally equal to the
effective user ID. The setuid() call also sets the filesystem user ID
of the current process. See setfsuid(2).
If uid is different from the old effective uid, the process will be
forbidden from leaving core dumps.
SEE ALSOgetuid(2), seteuid(2), setfsuid(2), setreuid(2), capabilities(7)Linux 2.6.6 2004-05-27 SETUID(2)
